EngageNY
Launching Readers Theater Groups: Identifying Passages from Esperanza Rising for Readers Theater that Connect to the UDHR
Teach young readers how to compare two texts and select passages that exemplify a specific theme with Lesson 6 from Unit 3. Begin by modeling how an expert reader selects examples from a text, performing a think aloud on how Article 2 of...
ProCon
Student Loan Debt
Should college loan debt be easier to discharge in bankruptcy? Scholars sort through the top three pros and cons to decide for themselves in preparation for a class debate or discussion. Learners may also participate in an online poll to...
Curated OER
Active Viewing: Savage Acts
Based on the documentary film Savage Acts: Wars, Fairs, and Empire, this lesson explores concepts of National interests and imperialism. They view sections of the film and share which images exemplify the meaning of each vocabulary term....
Curated OER
What About Shady Acres?
Students participate in a simulation activity where they must decide whether or not to preserve an untouched forest. During the role play, students attend public hearings, discuss the pros and cons of nature development, create...
State University of New York
Going Back in Time Using “George Washington’s Socks”
After reading Elvira Woodruff's George Washington's Socks, young readers and writers embark upon writing their own historically based story, with a focus on developing ideas and details throughout the piece. In small groups, class...
Channel Islands Film
Once Upon A Time (Saxipak’a): Lesson Plan 1
As part of a study of the history of the Chumash on California's Channel Island chain, class members view the documentary Once Upon a Time, respond to discussion questions, and create a timeline for the different waves of migration.
Curated OER
Breaching the Gulf Between Cultures
Students read excerpts from Jim Toner's memoir Serendib which chronicles his experiences as a Peace Corps volunteer in Sri Lanka. They work in small groups to analyze the excerpts and discuss how the author came to terms with Sri Lankan...
Curated OER
The American Revolution
Fifth graders read about the Revolutionary War. In this history lesson, 5th graders review what they know about the the Revolutionary War in order to identify British and American leaders. Students read a chapter from their...
Curated OER
Asian-American History for Grades 6-8
Students use web technology to access American history and the Asian-American experience. They evaluate journals as historical artifacts, especially the concept of firsthand account vs. history text. Students discuss Asian American...
Curated OER
How Would You Feel?
Sixth graders put themselves in the shoes of aborigines who were displaced from their homes in the 1800s by Europeans who came in and took their land from them. They discuss the social injustices suffered by these people, and write...
Curated OER
100 Years War and Joan of Ark
What events led up to the Hundred Years War? In small groups or pairs the class discusses several critical thinking questions and then writes a fictional dialogue that depicts both an English and a French point of view.
PBS
Baseball: The Tenth Inning
The intent of this resource is to explore Latin American accomplishments in baseball, recognizing the changes in demographics of players over the last century. Social studies classes begin with a discussion and brainstorm surrounding...
Curated OER
Lily and Miss Liberty
Students discuss ways to earn money and why they might need it. Students create crowns to wear all day like in the story. Students create a play using characters in the story. Students interview "eyewitnesses" at the unveiling of the...
Curated OER
Social Studies: Looking at Regions
Quiz your 3rd graders on why we have regions. This regions quiz includes 16 questions on why and how we group areas into regions based on physical features, culture, politics or religion. A class discussion on technology completes this...
Curated OER
Background on Uyghur Society
Young scholars are introduced to the history of the Uyghur society. In groups, they read various chapters of their text, they summarize the material, write down any questions they need answered and create an outline. They present...
Curated OER
To Declare Independence or Not??
Students debate and role play about whether the colonists should declare independence from England or not. In this American history and oral communication lesson, students read informational text about the colonists and their...
Curated OER
Taxes
Fourth graders read Stone Fax and explore earning money, saving, credit and taxes. In this taxes lesson, 4th graders complete a worksheet to develop understanding of paying off debts, keeping a checkbook, calculating sales tax and...
Curated OER
Do You Really Need It?
Fourth graders read and share chapters of The Boxcar Children. For this wants and needs lesson, 4th graders understand through their reading the differences between wants and needs. Students complete a worksheet about wants and needs...
Curated OER
Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable: Haitian Frontier Fur Trapper and Explorer
Eighth graders investigate the life and contributions of Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable. They read and discuss an informational handout, define five words from the passage, conduct Internet research, and write a journal entry from the...
Curated OER
"The Pianist" As A Tool For Classroom Instruction About the Holocaust
Students watch "The Pianist" to gain insight on the Holocaust and World War II. They write an essay based on ideas from the film and read a variety of poems and writings from the time period. In groups, they discuss the diffuculties of...
Curated OER
Background on Mongol History and Society
Students discuss the impact of the Mongols on history. In groups, they read a different component to the relationship between the Mongols and Han. They summarize what they have read, identify any questions they have and develop their...
Curated OER
The Revolt of Juan "Cheno" Cortina
Tenth graders examine the social and cultural impact of immigrant groups and the oppression of ethnic minorities with a focus on the role of Juan Cortina in Mexico. In small groups they discuss what a revolutionary is, read and discuss...
Curated OER
Accounting - Analyzing Transactions to Debit/Credit Parts
High schoolers are introduced to how transactions are analyzed with debits and credits. In groups, they complete a T-chart in which the account increases with credits and decreases with debits. To end the lesson, they analyze the various...
Curated OER
The Founding of Los Angeles, California
Seventh graders examine the social and cultural impact of settler groups in California and the origins of the founding of Los Angeles, California. They read and discuss an informational handout, and discuss what it is and was like to...